D*mn, You Almost Got It Right

The eloquently-wrapped misogyny killed it for me.

After listening to the clip of Scott Galloway talking about Elon Musk while writing my last post, something was bothering me about it. So, I listened again… and again… and again.

Then it hit me. It was the eloquent and barely noticeable misogyny in his words.

For him, “what it means to be a man” and “what he tries to teach his sons” is that the point of prosperity is to protect people.

Why not, what it means to be a good person? Why not, what it means to be a responsible member of society?

Why is it that “protecting people” is what it means to be a man? Because I know a helluva lot of women who have protected people, often without prosperity. I mean, Galloway has a daughter. It makes me wonder what he tries to teach her or what he is teaching her whether he realizes it or not.

In his criticism of Musk, Galloway goes on to talk about his lack of involvement in his kids lives, cutting benefits for vulnerable people, and his drug addiction - all of which I agree with him on - but it’s the last little bit he says that ruins it for me: "…I don’t think that’s the right role model for young men…”

Ummm, Scott, it’s not the right role model for anyone!

Now, somewhere there’s a man reading this and you’re offended by this post. You’re thinking…“OMG! Why are you making this about gender and gender roles? You’re just a bitter woman and feminist who hates men.” (or something like that lol)

Here’s my response: Scott Galloway made it about gender roles with his comments. I’m simply addressing them and calling a thing a thing.

That doesn’t make me bitter.

That doesn’t make me a feminist.

As a matter of fact, you should be celebrating my willingness to be direct, speaking truth to power, and being unapologetic about it. I mean, that’s what everyone is doing for Galloway, right?

Or do we only celebrate those qualities when men do it?

For those who might say that I’m detracting from what Galloway was saying, I disagree. I believe that we can agree with someone and the majority of what they are saying while also pointing out our areas for growth.

Galloway is 60 years of age… the same age as my oldest brother.

A lot of men, not all, who are of that age were raised in households that demonstrated and taught strict gender roles. They promoted aggression, lack of vulnerability, and anger as the only acceptable display of emotion. So, I am never shocked when I hear things like this in their conversation.

It’s the same way I’m never shocked to hear white men in their 70s and 80s say racially inappropriate things - it’s the era they grew up in.

The issue is are you STILL saying them once you’ve had the opportunity to know and do better.

You can’t tell me that Scott Galloway hasn’t had enough cultural exposure to understand the role of patriarchy and misogyny on society, on women. Somewhere, at some time, he has been exposed to the impact these things have had on women.

Someone in his position should know better and be doing better.

He has the ability to influence so many young men, even older men.

Why not use it to level the playing field and remove some of the sexism in the world his daughter lives in?

Just asking.